Sectopolitics: A Definition

Sectopolitics is the mobilization of sects on a political basis. It is an ideology that incorporates communal feelings, values, symbols, and the perceptions of an outside threat. It is the political articulation of status interests (sect/religions), and thus seeks to organize political competition between groups along strictly sectarian lines.

...

Sectopolitics does not operate in a vacuum; it has agents, such as the state, church, parochial schools, media organizations, research centers, universities, and of course political parties, that participate in making it the dominant ideology in Lebanese society.

(Richani, Dilemmas of Democracy and Political Parties in Sectarian Societies, p.15)

posted by Lazarus, 7:02 PM